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Amazing Grace still hitting the high notes

Sat, Oct 6, 2012, 01:00

SOUTH AFRICAN Branden Grace sprinted five shots clear of the field after the Dunhill Links Championship second round on Friday as he tried to land back-to-back wins for the second time this year.

The 24-year-old carded a five-under 67 at St Andrews, one of three courses being used at the €3.8 million pro-am event, to finish with a 17-under total of 127.

Swede Joel Sjoholm (67) and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen (69) shared second place on 132, one ahead of South African Anton Haig (68).

Shane Lowry is the best of th Irish after a second successive 69 put him at 138, 11 shots behind Grace. Damien McGrane is one shot behind Lowry after a 70 while Michael Hoey is next best on 142 after a pair of 71s.

Grace recorded his maiden victory on the European Tour at the Joburg Open in January and followed up by winning the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa.

Last week he returned to his roots on the Sunshine Tour to triumph at the Vodacom Origins of Golf event.

That was really good for me, Grace told reporters after picking up six birdies including a sizzling run of five in six holes from the fifth. To have a good week like that put some fire in my game coming here to Scotland.

On Thursday, Grace equalled the lowest round on the European Tour when he fired a 60 at Kingsbarns.

I think it helped I was playing a different course. If I had played Kingsbarns again after shooting the lights out yesterday I might have pushed it too much.

Sjoholm had an eventful time on the 18th at St Andrews where he pulled his tee shot so badly that it flew all the way across the adjoining first fairway and came within inches of going out of bounds.

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The Swede then made the most of his good fortune by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt up on the green.

The strangest incident of the day involved former world number three Paul Casey who had his ball stolen by a dog while lining up an eagle putt.

On the green at Kingsbarnss par-five 12th in two strokes, the Englishman looked on as the animal ran into the rough with his ball. Casey, playing alongside Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps, went on to birdie the hole after the delay.

It is the weirdest thing I have ever had happen on a golf course, said Casey after shooting a 69 for 141. I noticed the dog on the 12th tee and he followed us down the fairway before taking a real liking to my golf ball.

World number 118 Casey fell outside the top 100 in August for the first time in more than nine years owing to an injury-plagued 2012.

Martin Kaymer (71), who holed the putt that ensured Europe retained the Ryder Cup last Sunday, was well down the field on 141.

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